My daughter just informed me that the instrument display on the Windstar she is driving is "messed up" - she says that it is not reading correctly (whatever that means)
Before I get into it - I am wondering if there is a common problem with the display and an easy fix!

 

backside of a cluster:Front of the cluster:


Look for loose connections, loose ground connections, broken solder joints.
The speedometer uses stepper motors and sometimes the needle hangs at a speed and jumps up or down.

 

The Windstar is having fits so it is parked until I can figure things out.
The directional signals would not turn off and there were a few other electrical gremlins so my daughter is now using our 2006 grand caravan.

The problems come and go - usually don't happen when the mechanic looks at it.

It is a good thing I recently replaced the 2002 with a 2013 Chrysler Town and Country.

My wife insisted on a Chrysler van because the 2006 has over 200,000 miles with very few problems - other than it had to be towed because it would not start a few weeks ago. The problem was not enough gas in the tank when parked in a steep driveway so I can't fault the caravan!

Anyway - It would not surprise me if the Windstar problem was due to bad grounds - Can someone lead me to the location of the major ground wires on the Windstar?

 

I don't know all the ground connections by heart. There are obvious ones:
Battery negative to engine, to body.
There should be a ground strap from body to engine.
Check the alternator functions, a bad alternator can cause all kinds of funny things.
The mounting bolts serve as ground to the alternator. Corrosion can cause trouble right there.
It is really a thing of going systematically through the engine compartment. Just disconnect, clean and reconnect everything.

 

bluewind - Thanks -- I'll start playing as soon as I find some time.

My Audi used to have ground problems and there were 8-9 locations - not counting the BCM and ECM - that were troublesome. Most problems came from the frame to motor strap and was a PITA to get to. Come to think of it - I got the Windstar because of all the problems with the Audi electrical system.

 

When I researched Minivans a dealer told me: Toyota would mean spending the stupid money. Chrysler have a history of transmission troubles and the Windstar is o.k. except for "funky electricals"!

Right he was! LOL